Ushba Tesoro, hero of the 2023 Group 1 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline, is back at Meydan to defend his title.
It has been remarkable to witness the transformation in this 7-year-old entire since he belatedly switched to dirt from turf for the first time two years ago.
Racing on the dirt, he has won eight from 11 starts to become one of the best dirt horses in the world.
“The timing to switch Ushba Tesoro to run on dirt has worked well. Although he was a difficult horse to control when he was young, he has matured both physically and mentally,” his trainer, Noboru Takagi recalls.
In Saturday’s showpiece event, there are five individual Grade 1 winners, including Senor Buscador, the American rival who denied him victory in the last stride of the Saudi Cup in Riyadh last month.
It’s an opportunity for Ushba Tesoro to avenge his loss and he has been drawn in stall five for the US$12 million contest.
“The gate doesn’t matter for him as he will race from behind anyway. He has recovered well from the Saudi Cup and is in good form,” Takagi says.
The son of Orfevre is set to retire at the end of this year.
“We are planning to race him in the Grade 1 Champions Cup in December, and his swansong will be the Grade 1 Tokyo Daishoten [2000m].”
“After Dubai, our focus will switch to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic [2000m] at Del Mar this autumn,” Takagi adds.
Few are the horses that find their level in turf conditions races before developing into Grade 1 international superstars on dirt.
Ushba Tesoro’s dramatic journey looks set to continue for the rest of 2024.
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